Kitchens and Bathrooms

• To eliminate house odors in the kitchen, identify any old leftovers or food past its expiration date in the refrigerator. It's best to do this on a weekly basis to keep anything that's moldy or stale from causing odor. GoodHousekeeping.com suggests leaving an opened box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb smells or keeping small dishes of lemon slices on various shelves to help mask the odor.
  
  To eliminate house odors in the microwave, where food and liquid spills can linger, microwave a cup of water with a little bit of baking soda or vinegar. After a couple of minutes, the vapors will loosen the odor-causing substances, and it'll be easy to wipe them down. To keep rotting garbage from causing house odors, take the garbage outside or to the garage every few days until trash pickup day. However, keep the trash bags in closed bins to prevent animals from causing a mess.
  
  Vinegar also works to eliminate house odors caused by smelly foods like fish or certain vegetables. Set a cup of vinegar on the kitchen counter to absorb smells; once the vinegar smell subsides, the food odor should be gone.
  
  To eliminate house odors in your bathroom, clean the toilet with vinegar and use a 50/50 bleach and water solution to unclog the sink drain of hair, soap scum and other odor-causing substances. Mold and mildew growth in your shower or tub can cause musty, sour odors. You can prevent mold and mildew, which thrive in dark, warm and moist environments, by wiping down the shower, tub and all other moist surfaces following your shower or bath. To rid your bathroom of mold or mildew that's already grown, clean the shower and tub with an antibacterial cleaner and hard-scrubbing sponge. Like your kitchen, empty the bathroom trash can on a regular basis to prevent house odors.
  
  

Other Tips

• Institute a no-smoking policy in your home for your family and friends. Tobacco can leave a stale odor that's difficult to get rid of. Turn on exhaust fans when cooking in the kitchen and bathing in the bathroom to prevent unwanted odors and keep the air dry. Odors are made worse in moist conditions.
  
  Many household cleaners contain odorous fumes that, when mixed with natural odors, can cause even worse conditions. Try to purchase natural or organic products that actually kill the odors rather than just mask the smells. Simply keeping a clean house can prevent many house odors before they become issues.